The 60th annual Toronto International Boat Show, North America’s largest indoor boat show, wrapped up Sunday, January 21, with impressive results. Attendance at the 2018 Show totaled 77,493, an increase of 1% from 2017 (which was one of the highest-attended in the past five years at 77,105).

Widely regarded among marine manufacturers and retailers as the flagship economic indicator for the boating industry in Canada, demand for exhibitor space at the 2018 show sold out in record time in early fall of last year to fill the Enercare Centre with over 550 exhibitors, 1200 boats, and thousands of accessories and services.

New this year, the Toronto Boat Show introduced a $5 After 5pm ticket and free parking after 4pm on weekdays, which offered great value to attendees. Despite high water levels in the spring and mediocre boating weather across the province, consumer spending throughout the show dominated the conversation amongst sales exhibitors and staff.

Save the Date: The 61st Toronto International Boat Show is scheduled for January 18 – 27, 2019 at the Enercare Centre.

Some facts about the Toronto Show

The Toronto International Boat Show is owned and produced by Canadian Boat Shows. In generating more than $354 million in economic impact to the region, it is the largest indoor boat show in North America with more than 1,200 boats on display.

The Show has annually attracted more than 550 exhibitors and in 2017 welcomed more than 77,000 attendees. More boats are purchased at the Toronto International Boat Show than at any other place or event in Canada. About 43% of Canadians (12.4 million people) participate in boating and 20% (6 million) own a boat. Direct revenues across Canada’s core recreational boating industry total nearly $5 billion per year, and directly employ approximately 45,000 Canadians. (NMMA Canada – The Economic Impact of Recreational Boating In Canada; 2016.)